Reticulated python: Difference between revisions

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The '''reticulated python''' ('''''Malayopython reticulatus''''') is a [[Pythonidae|python]] species native to [[South Asia|South]] and [[Southeast Asia]]. It is the world's [[List of largest snakes|longest snake]], and the [[list of largest snakes|third heaviest]] after the [[green anaconda]] and [[Burmese python]]. It is listed as [[least concern]] on the [[IUCN Red List]] because of its wide distribution. In several countries in its range, it is hunted for its skin, for use in [[traditional medicine]], and for sale as [[pets]].<ref name=iucn /> Due to this, reticulated pythons are one of the most economically important reptiles worldwide.They are man-eaters.

It is an excellent swimmer, has been reported far out at sea, and has colonized many small islands within its range.

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===Diet===

[[File:Python reticulatus feeding in TMII Reptil Park.jpg|thumb|A captive reticulated python eating a chicken]]

As with all pythons, the reticulated python is an [[ambush predator]], usually waiting until prey wanders within strike range before seizing it in its coils and killing by [[constriction]]. Its natural diet includes [[mammal]]s and occasionally [[bird]]s. Small specimens up to {{convert|3|-|4|m|ftin|abbr=on}} long eat mainly small [[mammal]]s such as [[rat]]s, other [[rodent]]s, [[mouse-eared bat]]s, and [[treeshrew]]s, whereas larger individuals switch to prey such as [[small Indian civet]] and [[binturong]], [[primate]]s,(including humans) [[pig]]s, and [[deer]] weighing more than {{convert|60|kg|lboz|abbr=on}}.<ref name="animaldiversity.org">{{Cite web|url=https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Python_reticulatus/|title = ''Python reticulatus'' (Reticulated Python)| website=[[Animal Diversity Web]]}}</ref> As a rule, the reticulated python seems able to swallow prey up to one-quarter its own length and up to its own weight. Near human habitation, it is known to snatch stray [[chicken]]s, [[cat]]s, and [[dog]]s on occasion.<ref name=Shine/>

Among the largest documented prey items are a half-starved [[sun bear]] of {{convert|23|kg|lboz|abbr=on}} that was eaten by a {{convert|6.95|m|adj=on|ftin|abbr=on}} specimen and took some 10 weeks to digest.<ref name="Fre05">{{cite journal |author=Fredriksson, G. M. |author-link=species:Gabriella Margit Fredriksson |year=2005 |title=Predation on Sun Bears by Reticulated Python in East Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo |journal=Raffles Bulletin of Zoology |volume=53 |issue=1 |pages=165–168 |url=http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/rbz/biblio/53/53rbz165-168.pdf |archive-date=2007-08-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070811101110/http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/rbz/biblio/53/53rbz165-168.pdf}}</ref>

At least one case is reported of a foraging python entering a forest hut and taking a child.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite journal |doi=10.1073/pnas.1115116108 |title=Hunter–gatherers and other primates as prey, predators, and competitors of snakes |year=2011 |last1=Headland |first1=T. N. |author2-link=Harry W. Greene |last2=Greene |first2=H. W. |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |volume=108 |issue=52 |pages=E1470–E1474 |pmid=22160702|pmc=3248510|doi-access=free}}</ref>